subdue

v

1. conquer, vanquish, subjugate, oppress; rout, discomfit, put to flight, overwhelm, overrun, trample, crush, overthrow; smash, thrash, trim, whip, drub, floor, bow; Inf. skin alive, Inf. settle [s.o.'s] hash, worst, defeat.

2. master, overpower, overcome, surmount, triumph over, get the better of; control, subject to one's will, dominate, gain the upper hand over, browbeat, overawe, intimidate; humble, bring down, have at one's beck and call, have eating out of one's hand, Inf. have wrapped around one's little finger; captivate, charm, enthrall, ensnare, capture, tame, break, bend, reduce, break in, discipline, gentle, domesticate, Obs. domesti-cize; repress, suppress, put down, quell, restrain, check, curb, choke, smother, inhibit; muzzle, bridle, harness, rein, rein in, hold back, keep down, hold or keep in check.

3. reduce, moderate, temper, soften, mellow, tone down, muffle, silence, mute, quiet, dull, soft-pedal.

4. allay, alleviate, palliate, mollify, assuage, salve, relieve, dulcify; appease, pacify, soothe, still, ease, calm, gentle; mitigate, reduce, abate, slacken, slake, Obs. lenify; blunt, dull, cushion, tranquilize, deaden, kill; remedy, ameliorate.